John p



(No Model.)

J. PQMERN.

TESTING PLUG.

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JOHN P. MERN, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MICHAEL J. DRUMMOND, OF SAME PLACE.

TESTING-PLUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 595,189, dated December '7, 1897. Application filed March 20, 1897. Serial No. 628,513. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern.- the invention an adaptation thereof is shown Be it known that I, JOHN P. MERN, a citiin the accompanying drawings, in whichzen of the United States, residing at New Figure lis a side elevation of a testing- York, in the county of New York and State plug constructed in accordance with this in- 55 5 of New York, have invented a new and usevention, the gasket or compressible packingful Testing-Plug, of which the following is a ring being shown in section and theplug fitted specification. to the end of a pipe or main. Fig. 2is a View This invention relates to means for testing' similar to Fig. l, showing the testing-plug in water and gas pipes, fire-hydrants, and castsection. Fig. 3 is a section on the line X X 6o ro ings used in connection with mains and pipes of Fig. l, looking to the right.

for conveying' fluid or other medium from a Corresponding and like parts are referred reservoir, tank, or source to or along the reto inthe following description and indicated quired line of use. in the several views of the drawings by the The invention consists,essentially,of a plug same reference-characters. 65 15 composed of relatively movable parts having The testing-plug is composed. of the parts the outer portion of theirmeetingoropposing l and 2, which are centrally apertured and faces oppositely flared, forming a seat in connected by means of a short pipe 3, which which is fitted a rubber or compressible gasis rigidly attached to one of the parts7 as 2, ket or packing, and means for drawing the and passes loosely through the part l and is 7o 2o parts of the plug together for compressing the threaded at its outer end to receive a hand or packing or gasket so as to compel it to grip winged nut 4. The outer portion of the inthe walls of the part to which the plug is fitted ner or opposing faces of the parts is fiared, with such force as to hold the plug in place as shown at 5, forming a seat or annular chanagainst pressure from within., A short pipe nel for the reception of a rubber or compres- 75 2 5 passes through the parts of the plug and is sible packing ring or gasket 6. By having rigidly attached to one of the said parts and the outer or edge portions 5 flaring outwardly is movable with respect to the other part, the packing ring or gasket (3 is compressed whereby provision is had to secure a tight and caused to move outwardly when drawing joint and yet admit of the parts moving tothe parts l and 2 together and is brought 8o 3o ward and from each other to relax or comforcibly into contact with the inner wall of press the gasket or packing, as required. A the pipe 7, hydrant, main, or part to be tested, passage or vent is provided for the escape of the degree of outward pressure being reguthe air from the pipe or casting being tested lated bythe extent of compression of the packand is supplied with a valve for closing the ing-ring. An annular groove 8 is formed in 85 3 5 passage after the pipe or casting has been the inner face of one of the parts of the plug, properly charged with the fluid used in the and a corresponding flange 9 is provided on testing operation. the inner face of the other part and obtains The invention further consists of the novel a snug fit in the groove S, the latter being of features and details of construction, which sufficient depth to admit of the parts l and 2 9o 4o hereinafter willbemore particularlyset forth, being drawn together so as to compress the illustrated, and finally embodied in the subpacking 6. The outer part l is formed with joined claims. an angular boss l0, which is intended to rc- For a full understanding of the merits and ceive a wrench or other tool, so as to hold the advantages of the invention reference is to be plug steady when turning the nut 4 to draw 95 45 had to the accompanying drawings and the the parts l and 2 together when applying the following description. device to the part to be tested. A washer 1l The improvement is susceptible of various is interposed between the boss l0 and nut 4 changes in L 'ie form, proportion, and the miand is loosely mounted upon the threaded nor details of construction without departing portion of the pipe 3 and serves to transmit Ico 5o from the principle or sacrificing any of the the pressure from the nut at to the part l.

advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of A vent or passage 12 extends inward from the edge of the part 2 to within a short distance of the pipe 3 and is deflected and extends outwardly about parallel with the said pipe and has a valve 13, by means of' which it can be opened or closed as required. By having this vent or passage extend through the edge of the part 2 it occupies the highest point of the pipe 7 or part to be tested and enables all the air to escape when charging the pipe with water or other fluid. In order to allow forthe relative movement of the parts 1 and 2, a small pipe 14 passes loosely through an opening in the part 1 and is connected at its inner end with the part 2 and forms a continuation 'of the passage 12, and this pipe carries the valve 13 at its outer end.

It will be understood that the testing-plug will be provided in various sizes and that the manner of connecting the pipe 3 with the part 2 is unimportant so long as a firm and rigid joint is obtained. "When fitting the plug to the pipe or part to be tested, care should be exercised so as to have the inner end of the passage12 occupy the highest position, and the plug is secured in place by drawing the parts 1 and 2 together by means of screwing up the nut 4 on the pipe 3.

The flange i), in addition to supplementing the action of the pipe 3 in centralizing the parts 1 and 2, also sustains the inward pressure of the gasket or packing-ring 6 and forms an inner wall to the seat or annular channel in which the said packing-ring is fitted. After the plug is secured in place a gage, such as commonly used for testing, is fitted to the outer end of the pipe 3, and the pipe 7 or part to be tested is charged 'with water or fluid under pressure by forcing the `same through thev pipe 3 by means of a pump in the ordinary manner. As the water or fiuid displaces the air the latter escapes through the passage 12, and when the pipe or part is fully charged the passage 12 is closed and the test conducted in the ordinary manner, after Which the plug is removed by loosening the nut 4, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a testing-plug,the combination of relatively movable parts, the inner part having a passage extending inward toward the center from its outer edge, thence deflected outwardly toward the other part, a vent-pipe passing loosely through the outer part and across the space between the two parts and communicating with the inner end of the said passage, and having a cut-oft valve, a compressible packing placed between the parts,

l and a short pipe centrally disposed and provided with means for drawing the parts together to expand the said packing and serving as a means for charging the part to be tested, substantially as described.

2. In atesting-plug, the combination of relatively movable parts having an outwardlyflaring seat formed between them, a compressible packing fitted in the said seat, a short pipe provided with means for drawing the movable parts together and serving as a means for charging the part to be tested, and a vent-pipe operatingloosely through an opening in the outer part, extending across the space between the two parts, and connecting at its inner end with a passage formed in the inner part, and which passage extends through the edge portion of the part in which it is formed, substantially as and vfor the purpose set forth.

In a testing-plug comprising relatively movable parts having a seat or channel formed between them, a groove provided in the inner face of one of the said parts, a flange formed on the inner face of the other part and movable within the said groove, a compressible packing fitted in the said seat, and means for drawing the parts of the plug together, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a testing-plug composed of relatively movable parts having the outer portions of their inner or opposingv Jfaces oppositely fiaring, forming a seat, a groove in the inner face of one part, a flange proj ect-ing from the inner face of the other part and operating in the said groove,`and providing an inner wall to the said seat, a compressible packing located in the aforesaid seat, a pipe rigidly connected with the inner part of the plug and passing loosely through the other part, a nut mounted upon the said pipe for drawing the parts together, a passage extending inward from the edge of the inner part, and a valve-controlled pipe passing loosely through the other part and forming a continuation of the said passage, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN P. MERN.

WVitnesses:

JN0. M. FRASER, BERNARD J. MCDERMOTT.

IOO 

